Stable aqueous suspension of partial oxidation ash, slag and char containing polyethoxylated quaternary ammonium salt surfactant

Abstract

A pumpable stable aqueous suspension of ash, slag, and char particulate matter produced by the partial oxidation of a carbonaceous charge fuel comprises 1.0-50.0 wt. % particulate matter selected from the group consisting of ash, slag, and char and mixtures thereof, water, and about 0.1-10.0 wt % of an alkyl substituted amino based surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl-substituted aminobutyric acid, alkyl-substituted polyethoxylated amide and alkyl-substituted polyethoxylated quarternary ammonium salt.

We claim: 
     
       1. A pumpable aqueous suspension of particulate matter with reduced viscosity and increased resistance to sedimentation and having a particle size in the range of about 37-2000 microns as produced by quench cooling or scrubbing the hot raw effluent gas stream comprising H 2  +CO at a temperature in the range of about 1700° F.-3000° F. from the partial oxidation of solid carbonaceous fuel selected from the group consisting of anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous and lignite coal, coke from coal, petroleum coke, coal liquefaction solid residue, oil shale, tar sands, asphaltic bitumen, and mixtures thereof, wherein said aqueous suspension comprises water, about 1.0-50.0 weight percent of said particulate matter consisting of a mixture of slag and char, and about 0.1-10.0 weight percent of a polyethoxylated quaternary ammonium salt surfactant of the formula: ##STR3## where R is an alkyl radical selected from the group consisting of coco, tallow, lauryl, oleyl, and octadecyl, and x+y has a value in the range of 2-15. 
     
     
       2. The aqueous suspension of claim 1, where said particulate matter has a particle size in the range of 44-500 microns. 
     
     
       3. The aqueous suspension of claim 1, where said surfactant is of the formula ##STR4## and is present in a concentration range of 0.5-2.0 weight percent.